CHILDREN'S SELF-RESPONSIBILITY HEALTH SCALE: AN INSTRUMENT DEVELOPMENT (RESPONSIBILITY, HEALTH SCALES).
Contributors: Texas Woman's University.
Published: 1993
Number of pages: 208
Subjects: Health Sciences, Nursing.; Health Sciences, Nutrition.; Education, Elementary.
Description: This methodological investigation was conducted to study the problem of whether the Children's Self-responsibility Health Scale (CSRHS) is a reliable and valid instrument. Instrument review revealed a lack of instruments for children under 9 years of age to respond to a self-report questionnaire. Many younger children studies involved the answers of the parents. This deficiency of instruments measuring children's participation in their own health inspired the development of the CSRHS.

The initial instrument generated 64 items and was reviewed by nine content experts. Revisions were made and a total of 28 new items was sent back to the experts for further review. Five of the original nine experts reviewed the additional items. Children ages 5 to 8 years old were also interviewed and discussed health with the investigator. Three second-graders also answered the written questionnaire. A pilot study with 63 items was done with a convenience sample of 172 second-grade children for initial analysis of reliability and validity. Analysis of the pilot study yielded an instrument with 44 items.

A convenience sample (N = 503) 7 and 8 year old second-grade students comprised the study. Six elementary schools participated in the study. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Cronbach alpha coefficient, Pearson product-moment correlation, and factor analysis. The final revision of the instrument was comprised of 27 items, with an internal consistency of.7809. The reliabilities of the subscales were Knowledge (.5596), Self-efficacy (.6713), and Commitment (.6584). Factor analysis statistical techniques were used in estimation of the construct validity.

Each of the three subscales (factors) consisted of at least eight items, with a minimum loading of 0.30. The factor analysis indicated that knowledge, self-efficacy, and commitment are factors that constitute the self-responsibility phenomenon. The Pearson correlational statistical analysis examined the relationship between the three subscales. The three subscales correlated significantly at the 0.01 level (knowledge/self-efficacy, r =.3255; knowledge/commitment, r =.3092; and self-efficacy/commitment, r = 4703). These moderate correlations were anticipated since the newly developed CSRHS is composed by these three subscales.

Results of the investigation indicated support for the CSRHS as a reliable and valid measure of self-responsibility. The use of a valid and reliable instrument in measuring children's self-responsibility in health can have a significant impact to assist nurses in fostering health promotive behaviors in children.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 55-02, Section: B, page: 0363.

Thesis (PH.D.)--TEXAS WOMAN'S UNIVERSITY, 1993.

School code: 0925.